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The Pulse

Share Your Story: Mandy Forkner

by Christy D. on Monday, July 8, 2013

Mandy Forkner Iowa

As a mother, I'm thrilled that the State of Iowa just passed pulse oximetry legislation that requires all newborn babies to be screened for critical congenital heart defects prior to leaving the hospital!

Congenital heart defects are the number one birth defect. Take it from me. Three years ago I gave birth to twin boys. Travis was seemingly healthy, but Thomas had obvious issues, prompting doctors to perform a pulse oximetry screening on him. Turns out, Thomas was fine, but then Travis’s hands and feet turned blue. He was diagnosed with three critical congenital heart defects. After three surgeries and six weeks, we lost Travis. A pulse ox test could have saved his life.

One month later I received a call from my older daughter Kylie’s school. She was six years old and had collapsed during gym class. We learned then that Kylie had two previously undetected heart defects and needed a pacemaker. Why did she have to endure a traumatic event to reveal her life threatening heart condition? A pulse ox test could have detected this when she was born. The American Heart Association

Pulse Oximetry is a noninvasive and inexpensive test that will help give all Iowa moms the peace of mind that our babies will be protected!